Spurs part with Pau Gasol, who'll reportedly sign with Bucks

SAN ANTONIO (AP) -- The San Antonio Spurs announced a buyout agreement with Pau Gasol on Friday, allowing the veteran center to become playoff-eligible with another team. According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Gasol plans to sign with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Pau Gasol fortifies a Bucks team that added forward Nikola Mirotic at the trade deadline. Gasol is expected to play center minutes behind Brook Lopez, who is averaging 28 minutes per game.

Gasol has been used sparingly by the Spurs of late, appearing in only two of their last seven games and his playing time has dropped this season to just over 12 minutes per game.

"Pau Gasol is an exceptional individual and the ultimate professional," coach Gregg Popovich said. "We are grateful for his contributions on the court, in the locker room and in our community."

The Spaniard signed with the Spurs in July 2016 and appeared in a total of 168 games with San Antonio, averaging 10.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 22.4 minutes.

The 18-year NBA veteran and two-time champion is a six-time All-Star. In 1,223 career games, he has averaged 17.1 points, 9.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.59 blocks in 33.5 minutes. He is one of four players with over 20,000 points, 11,000 rebounds, 3,500 assists and 1,500 blocks in his career, along with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett.